Mainstream camp to gear up for big political battles ahead

National Conference To Reach-Out To Lost Roots; Peoples Democratic Party To Fight Against Corruption; Congress To Consult High Command

ABID BASHIR

Srinagar, Dec 31: With the year 2012 over, the mainstream camp in J&K would be busy in 2013 to prepare for the big political battles ahead as the Parliament and state assembly polls are scheduled for 2014.The ruling National Conference (NC) wants to reach-out to its “lost roots” to revive the past glory of the party in a “true sense.” NC – one of J&K’s oldest political parties - also vows to fight for the unification of the two divided parts of Kashmir on the pretext that the line that divides the State doesn’t have any “constitutional obligation.”“We have framed many important resolutions at the party level for year 2013 — to redouble our efforts to see peace at large, to strengthen the party and to work seriously for unification of divided parts of Kashmir as it existed on August 14, 1947,” said NC Additional General Secretary, Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal.He said the party intends to bridge the wedge with people “created by a party formed by agencies.” “A party (PDP) was formed to dismantle NC. Though we have fought them bravely, but some damage has been done to our roots as they played politics of deceit,” Kamaal said. “We will work hard to end the hatred spread by the leaders of that party against our leadership. We will try our best to bridge the divide and to fight our enemies – including that political party and some agencies.”He said as for unification of divided parts of Kashmir is concerned, the party has a firm belief that autonomy should not be granted only to this part of Kashmir, but Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) as well. “The line has not divided the people of Kashmir but the armies of India and Pakistan. The bloody line doesn’t have any constitutional commitment and has to vanish,” the NC leader said. Kamaal, who is the son of NC patriarch, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, said the unification of two parts of Kashmir has to begun with demilitarization. “Both, India and Pakistan have to demilitarize the territories under their control. There is no denying the fact that J&K was an independent state till accession took place between the then Maharaja Hari Singh and Government of India,” he said.On the other hand, State unit of Congress will focus on the party’s expansion in year 2013 and to take Congress high command in New Delhi on board when it comes to serious issues. “We will redouble our efforts to make Congress more vibrant in every nook and corner of the State in the coming year,” said Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prof Saifuddin Soz. “We will also remain in touch with the party high command on every issue be it related to the party or state. This is must to make party deliver,” he said.The main opposition, PDP, however, has listed a series of resolutions for the year. Interestingly, the party believes that nothing much can be expected as for its Self-Rule document is concerned owing to the fact that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already distanced himself from the Kashmir resolution and that, both, India and Pakistan were going to polls in 2014. “We will fight against growing corruption tooth and nail in 2012,” said PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akthar. “We will also try to expose the corrupt ministers and the bureaucrats who receive personal benefits from the top. Plus, PDP will fight for the rights of victimized youth and women.” Akhtar said the fight against mis-governance of the ruling dispensation was already on. “We will try to give more impetus to the campaign,” he said.The resolutions framed by the NC, Congress and PDP assume significance owing to the fact that the State will go to Assembly polls in 2014 while the Parliament polls are also scheduled for the same year. “The resolutions of all three political parties are aimed to strengthen their respective vote-banks. At the same time, the resolve of mainstream parties for 2013 is an honest admission that they have miserably failed on their commitments made in 2012,” said a political analyst, wishing not to be named.

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